Europe Startup Nations Alliance

🇪🇺 The countdown is on for the 4th edition of the ESNA Forum, our flagship conference that gathers ecosystem builders and policymakers to bring Europe another step closer to leading the global startup race.   This year, our panels will tackle essential topics, including #EUfunding, #ArtificialIntelligence, and the development of progressive policies critical to the growth of startups across Europe. We’re featuring an impressive lineup of speakers, focusing on key areas: 💡 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝑼 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 Featuring Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), Armando Melone from DG GROW Access to Finance Unit, and Thijs Povel, CEO and Founder of Dealflow.eu. 💡𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆'𝒔 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝑰 Featuring experts Lucilla Sioli, Head of the AI Office of the EC and Carme Artigas, former Secretary of State for Digitalization in Spain and current Co-Chair of the UN Advisory Board on AI, as well as a presentation by Karen Boers from the innovative FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute In a panel featuring Ricardo Greenfield and Thaleia Misailidou, we will also unveil ESNA’s vision for the future of the ecosystem, emphasizing the need for a united approach to overcome challenges and foster a cohesive startup environment across Europe. Check the full program in this link: https://lnkd.in/dhiFcPjF As seats are limited, we encourage you to secure your spot by completing this registration form as soon as possible: https://lnkd.in/dQYpSFmS #ESNAForum #ShapingTheFuture #Startups #EU

An incredible day at the #ESNAForum, featuring an outstanding lineup of experts and industry leaders. Key takeaways: • Arthur Jordão Jordao, Executive Director of ESNA, kicked off the day with a powerful call to action for policymakers and ecosystem leaders: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦’𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦.” • 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 With +30 years of experience supporting innovation, Michiel Scheffer, President of he European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), emphasized the need to place innovation at the heart of our economy. He highlighted the challenge of ensuring Europe’s competitiveness, noting that 6% of European Deep Tech startups still relocate to the US. • 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 Chiara Fratto, Economist at the European Investment Bank (EIB), presented the latest report, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆-𝑼𝒑 𝑮𝒂𝒑: 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑬𝑼 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒎𝒔, revealing that the US has 8x more companies valued over €500M than the EU. In a panel featuring Armando Melone, Policy Officer on Access to Finance at the European Commission, and Thijs Povel, CEO & Founder of Dealflow.eu, discussed how to better allocate funding, with a positive signal to startup founders and ecosystem builders: “𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘴.”    • 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐒𝐍𝐀’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 Authored by Arthur Jordão and Caro Rossi, it was unveiled today as ESNA’s contribution to the upcoming EU Startup & Scale-up Strategy. The document calls for a unified EU-wide strategy for a more integrated, innovation-driven market for entrepreneurs. 𝐄𝐔 𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐜𝐭: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 Lucilla Sioli, Head of the AI Office of the European Commission, and Carme Artigas, Co-Chair of the AI Advisory Board at the United Nations, discussed the importance of the EU AI Act. They stressed the importance of changing the narrative: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵e 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘈𝘐 use", Carme mentioned. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 The day closed with a focus on practical AI implementation. Karen Boers, Managing Director of the innovative FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute, showcased how AI can be harnessed through capacitation of users, to better serve the economy and public administrations. #ESNAForum #ShapingtheFuture #Innovation #Funding #AIAct

This morning, the #ESNAForum in Brussels sparked pivotal discussions on the future of the startup ecosystem across Europe. We were honored to have Roberto Viola, Director-General of DG CONNECT at the European Commission, as our keynote speaker, kicking off a day filled with insightful conversations and milestone announcements. We also welcomed Mr. Mathieu MICHEL, Secretary of State for Digitalization of the Belgian Government, to share his valuable perspective. The event marked several milestone updates that speak to the groundwork that ESNA strives to deliver: ▶️ #Ukraine officially joined the EU Startup Nations Standards Declaration as a new signatory country, with the Ukrainian Startup Fund now representing them within the Alliance. ▶️ #Italy and #Romania were welcomed as new members, with InnovUp and ROStartup appointed as the official entities to represent their nations in the Alliance. As we continue with an afternoon of dynamic discussions with ESNA members, we're looking forward to delving deeper into the unique startup ecosystems across the EU. #ESNAForum #EUStartupEcosystem #Innovation #ShapingTheFuture #StartupNations Daniel Gieber Hendrik Zechner Theodoros Loukaidis Jouko Leinonen Christina Ronhardt Miriam Häfele Panagiotis Karniouras Patrick Sinnott Alberto Castronovo Jacques Thill Michele Gallo Silvio Schembri Egehan Yildirim Agata Wancio João Rui Ferreira Matevž Frangež María González Veracruz Håkan Hillefors Anne Lidgard Emmanuel Pieters Arnaud Boulanger Ivo Denemark

The ESNA Forum will be showcasing new developments and exclusive releases! We're officially unveiling the ESNA Compendium, our major contribution to the EU Scale-up and Startup Strategy. This pivotal document will be introduced by Caro Rossi, Head of Network and Strategic Initiatives at ESNA. 💡 She will be joined by experts Ricardo Greenfield, Clark Parsons, and Anne Lidgard to dive into the key insights from the Compendium and discuss how it can drive meaningful progress in shaping Europe’s startup policy agenda. Limited spots remaining! Register now: https://lnkd.in/dhiFcPjF #ESNAForum #ESNACompendium #ShapingTheFuture

As the ESNA Forum approaches, we’re excited to unveil more about our exceptional lineup of speakers at this premier event for policymakers across Europe.   Chiara Fratto, Economist at the European Investment Bank (EIB) , will share key insights from the EIB’s latest report, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆-𝒖𝒑 𝑮𝒂𝒑: 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏. The report examines the critical challenges European startups face to grow and scale up. Despite a vibrant innovation ecosystem, many businesses still struggle to access the funding necessary for growth and global competition.   Join us to explore these challenges and hear the EIB’s recommendations for closing the investment gap, unlocking capital, and driving innovation across Europe. https://lnkd.in/dhiFcPjF #ESNAForum #ShapingTheFuture #Investment #Startups #EU #Innovation #PolicyMaking

We're bringing you a sneak peek into our recent Advisory Board meeting, where 25 of the brightest minds in Europe’s startup ecosystem – venture capitalists, founders, and academics – came together to share valuable insights and shape the future of the European startup landscape. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the participants whose expertise and vision are instrumental in guiding our strategy. Their dedication and insights help propel our mission forward, strengthening Europe’s position at the forefront of the global startup race. A heartfelt thank you to: Greta Žėkienė, Sacha Michaud, Nicolas Brien, André de Aragão Azevedo, Sabrina Guelck, João Trigo da Roza, Tatjana Zabasu Mikuž, Annamaria Tartaglia, Simon Zajc, Markus Raunig, Thijs Povel, Clark Parsons, Padraig Nolan, CIPP-E, Ricardo Greenfield, Nina Nikolich, Thaleia Misailidou, Liina Laas, Omar Kandil, Steven Jacobs, Vit Horky, Carolin Geier,Carme Artigas, Martina Fitzgerald, Sam Eshrati, and Veroniek Collewaert (she/her). #ESNA #AdvisoryBoard #Startups #StartupEcosystem

Europe finds itself at a critical crossroads in its quest to become a global leader in innovation. Startups are vital contributors to economic competitiveness, driving job creation, fostering technological breakthroughs and stimulating growth across the globe. Read ESNA’s contribution in POLITICO Europe https://lnkd.in/d6vHhEZ4 #ESNAForum #policymaking #startups

One of the most anticipated sessions at this year's ESNA Forum will focus on the future of startup #funding in Europe. Join us as we dive deep into the evolving landscape of funding opportunities, featuring an expert lineup: ✅ Chiara Fratto, Economist at the European Investment Bank (EIB) Investment Bank ✅Armando Melone, Policy Officer on Access to Finance Unit, DG GROW, European Commission ✅Thijs Povel, CEO & Founder of Dealflow.eu We'll explore new funding avenues emerging in the wake of the EU's shifting priorities, especially with the upcoming changes in the Commission. How will the new political priorities set by Ursula von der Leyen strengthen European entrepreneurship? And what does this mean for startups at every stage looking for investment? Get ready for insider insights on how to navigate the evolving funding ecosystem and the opportunities ahead. Limited seats left -secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/dhiFcPjF #ESNAForum #StartupFunding #InvestmentOpportunities #Startups #EUInnovation

As we count down to the ESNA Forum, we're unveiling our impressive lineup of speakers, each bringing their expertise to this pivotal gathering of policymakers from across Europe. Karen Boers, Managing Director of FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute, will offer valuable insights into FARI's pioneering efforts to advance the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. By engaging local experts, policymakers, and organizations, FARI ensures that AI delivers meaningful benefits for society as a whole. A joint initiative of ULB and VUB, FARI is dedicated to harnessing AI's potential for the common good.   A social impact entrepreneur at heart, Karen is passionate about transformative, purpose-driven projects. She co-founded BeCode.org, a disruptive coding school that has empowered hundreds of adults to become skilled web developers, regardless of their background or experience. With a strong track record of founding Belgium's startup association, Startups.be, the European Startup Network, and the tech hub BeCentral, Karen has consistently championed initiatives that have a positive societal impact. Her outstanding work has earned her a place in the Top 50 Most Influential Women in European startups and venture capital for five consecutive years.   Don’t miss Karen’s presentation on "AI for Good" at the ESNA Forum on November 28th in Brussels. Register now: https://lnkd.in/dhiFcPjF #ESNAForum #ShapingTheFuture #AI #Startups #EU

Our Advisory Board held its second meeting of the year, where we discussed the future of the ecosystem, taking another significant step towards realizing our vision of a unified, startup-friendly European market. We extend our deepest gratitude to the 25 experts from across the startup ecosystem in Europe — venture capitalists, founders, and academics — whose invaluable insights shape our strategy. This diverse gathering allowed us to tap into the 'voice of the market', ensuring our focus on high-impact initiatives and sharing best practices across EU Member States. Thank you to all our participants for their commitment and insights and their continued support in bringing Europe to the lead of the global startup ecosystem. Greta Žėkienė Sacha Michaud Nicolas Brien André de Aragão Azevedo Sabrina Guelck João Trigo da Roza Tatjana Zabasu Mikuž Annamaria Tartaglia Simon Zajc Markus Raunig Thijs Povel Clark Parsons Padraig Nolan, CIPP-E Ricardo Greenfield Nina Nikolich Thaleia Misailidou Liina Laas Omar Kandil Steven Jacobs Vit Horky Carolin Geier Carme Artigas Martina Fitzgerald Sam Eshrati Veroniek Collewaert (she/her) #ESNA #AdvisoryBoard #Startups #StartupEcosystem